JURGENSON TAKES CARLISLE WIN AS CRONIN FINISHES TROUBLED FOURTH
Reigning Junior World Rally champions, Romet Jürgenson and Siim Oja have won the Visit Kielder Carlisle Rally, the second round of the Probite Brakes British Rally Championship, in their M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally 2. The Estonian crew led the rally after the first stage this morning, but they were then hampered by hanging dust on the second test and were overhauled by William Creigton and Liam Regan in their Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-supported Toyota GR Yaris. The positions were reversed again on stage three, but the overall difference between the crews stood at just .2 of a second. The outcome was decided on the penultimate stage, when Creighton and Regan spun at a chicane, and lost over thirteen seconds to Jürgenson and Oja, who went on to take their first ever overall rally victory.
Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin held fourth spot after the first three stages in their Citroën C3 Rally 2, but had closed in on the Fiesta crew of Garry Pearson and Hannah McKillop, who occupied third place, to leave the gap at just .7 of a second with 23.5 competitive miles remaining to be completed. The Killarney and District Motor Club crew then had their car cut out inexplicably on the penultimate test, and they dropped over forty seconds while endeavouring to restart it, ending any prospect of a podium finish.
“Fourth was the best we could hope for after what happened on the second last stage, to get as many points as we could”, said Cronin. “It’s good for the championship to have as many winners in different rallies as possible. It’s good for our championship hopes that it’s Romet that won, rather than Will taking another maximum score,” he added.
Max McRae and Cameron Fair held second place after the opening stage, but they retired after the end of stage two after their Citroën developed an engine issue.
Creighton continues to head the BRC Driver standings, with 43 points. Jürgenson is now second, on 33 points, followed by Cronin on 30.
Cronin and Galvin will return to action in just six days time, for the Circuit of Ireland, which takes place in the Dungannon area on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. They will be aiming to continue their good start to the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, having taken maximum points on the opening round in West Cork last month.
Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin are supported by M Group of Companies, Shane Casey Electrical Services, Michelin Tyres, Cronin’s Centra (Ballylickey, Union Hall, Leap, Millstreet and Dundrum), Cronin’s HomeValue Hardware, Daybreak Westlink, Cremin Coaches, Keohane Seafoods, Citroën Racing, and Race and Rally Motorsport. Their Citroën C3 Rally 2 is prepared and run by Tom Gahan Motorsport.
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